Accra’s vibrant Chale Wote Street Art Festival kicks off its 15th edition on August 18, promising an economic windfall for local vendors alongside bold cultural storytelling.
Hundreds of food sellers, artisans, and small businesses are preparing stalls across Osu for the week-long event, with organizers keeping fees affordable and tiered by product type to encourage grassroots entrepreneurship.
Co-founder Anny Osabutey emphasized the festival’s dual identity as marketplace and artistic platform, drawing thousands of tourists whose spending powers local livelihoods. “Deal only with official festival teams,” he cautioned vendors, warning against unauthorized intermediaries. Past logistical hiccups like power outages are being addressed with backup electricity plans and streamlined vendor management.
This year’s theme, “The Orbs Beneath the Nile Lead to Kongo,” explores Africa’s liberation struggles through original murals, performances, and installations. “We’re moving beyond recycled work to narratives of identity and collective memory,” Osabutey explained. While Ghanaian and international artists will reinterpret the theme, corporate sponsorship remains scarce despite crucial venue support from the Ghana Tourism Authority.
From its Jamestown origins, Chale Wote has grown into a West African cultural beacon. As stalls unfold next week, the festival reaffirms its mission: fueling Accra’s economy while reimagining Africa’s stories for a new generation.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
